Small Water PlantainAlisma subcordatum
From the USGS
Flowering: June-September
Field Marks: The features that distinguish this water-plantain from others are the tiny petals less than 1/10 inch long and the elliptic to ovate leaves.
Habitat: Wet areas, often in standing water.
Stems: Upright, unbranched except in the inflorescence, smooth, up to 2 feet tall, bearing a panicle of flowers but no leaves.
Leaves: Basal, elliptic to ovate, more or less pointed at the tip, slightly heart-shaped to tapering at the base, without teeth, smooth, up to 4 inches long, up to 2 inches wide; leaf stalks longer than the blades.
Flowers: Numerous, in terminal panicles on a leafless stem, the panicle up to 1 foot long, the branches subtended by bracts; bracts lanceolate.
Sepals: 3, green, free from each other, rounded at the tip, up to 1/8 inch long.
Petals: 3, white, free from each other, up to 1/8 inch long.
Fruits: Achenes several in a small ring, flattened, up to 1/10 inch long, the ring of achenes up to 1/6 inch across.
Notes: The achenes are eaten by waterfowl.
